Method of providing a series of disposable absorbent articles to consumers

ABSTRACT

A method of concurrently providing a series of types of pant-like garments and corresponding information to consumers. The series includes two or more pant-like garments, each of the garments corresponding to a stage of toilet training. Each of the garments in the series may differ from one another in terms of absorbent capacity, size, and/or features. The information provided to the consumer helps the consumer discern which garment from the series is most appropriate for a child in a specific stage of the toilet training process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/025,203 filed 19 Dec. 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a method of combining a series of types ofdisposable undergarments having varying degrees of absorbent capacityand toilet training features with information that corresponds to theapplicability of the undergarments in view of the changing needs andabilities of caregivers and toilet training children.

The process of toilet training a child can be frustrating for the childas well as for the caregiver. The ability to control one's excretoryfunctions involves both physiological and psychological developments.These developments take time.

As children increase in age and personal development, their ability todiscern changes in their surrounding environment increases. A key areaof change for toilet training children is their ability to noticetactile changes when urinating or defecating in a disposableundergarment. A child's caregiver is typically the best judge of thechild's readiness for toilet training and is typically aware ofreasonable expectations of the child's abilities in various settings andat various times. For early stage trainers, the children are starting tolearn the difference between the tactile feeling of wet and dry, and donot have the bowel and bladder control needed to stop urinating in thedisposable undergarment they are wearing. As children make progress intoilet training, their tactile perceptions increase and their bowel andbladder control improve.

As a child makes progress in toilet training, he or she stops wearingdiapers and may begin wearing training pants or cloth undergarments.Cloth underwear is not preferred by many caregivers due to theinconvenience of inevitable accidents. Both diapers and training pantsare typically designed to contain multiple insults. As a childprogresses through the toilet training process, they learn to controltheir bowels and bladder and can become capable of identifying when aninsult has occurred in their training pant. However, high capacityabsorbent products that are able to fully absorb a child's insults mayprevent the child from noticing when an insult has occurred. As aresult, less absorbent capacity is needed in training pants during thelater toilet training stages. Furthermore, it can be desirable to signalto the child a change of expectations with respect to control of bodilyfunctions.

If a training pant has a high absorbent capacity, it is suitable for theearly stages of toilet training, but it may not motivate the child tofinish toilet training if the child knows that he or she can continue toissue multiple insults without any negative consequences. If a trainingpant has a low absorbent capacity, it is suitable for the late stages oftoilet training during which time the training pant acts as a safety netin case the wearer accidentally issues one insult, but it may discouragea child in the early stages of toilet training if he or she does nothave the ability to control their insults yet and the training pant isunable to contain all of their waste.

There is a need or desire for a series of training pants andcorresponding information that pertains to the toilet training process,the combination of which addresses a child's needs and abilities as thechild progresses through the toilet training process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In response to the discussed difficulties and problems encountered inthe prior art, a new method of concurrently providing a series of typesof disposable training pants to consumers has been discovered.

The present invention is directed to a method of providing a series ofat least three types of disposable undergarments that provide differentlevels of absorbency to correspond to the progress made by toilettraining children, along with information provided to the caregiver tohelp the caregiver determine which undergarment is appropriate for aparticular child.

Because children in the earlier stages of toilet training have not yetdeveloped the needed levels of bowel and bladder control orphysiological awareness or anticipation of the need to void, a productwith a high absorbency level to contain one or more voids in the pant isappropriate in the early stages of toilet training. Appropriateundergarments for the later stages of training are designed with lessabsorbency making them saturated with less liquid. As the productbecomes saturated the child will feel wet. Garments with less absorbencyhelp the child realize the wetness and stop voiding in the product whilethe garment still provides leakage protection against single-insultaccidents.

The series of undergarment types can include multiple undergarmentshaving different absorbent capacities. For example, the series caninclude an early stage garment having an absorbent capacity sufficientto contain multiple insults and a late stage garment having an absorbentcapacity sufficient to contain only one insult. Additionally, the seriescan also include one or more intermediate garments having absorbentcapacities in between the capacities of the early stage and late stagegarments, or absorbent capacities even greater than the capacity of theearly stage garment.

All of the garments in the series may have the same design and differonly in terms of the absorbent capacity, and possibly size.Alternatively, the garments may differ in terms of features as well. Forexample, any number of the garments in the series may have refastenableside seams. Likewise, any number of the garments in the series may havepermanently bonded side seams. Furthermore, any number of the garmentsin the series may be unisex or gender-specific.

In at least one embodiment, a later stage garment may have a shorterchassis length and/or a lower absorbent capacity than another garment inthe series that is designed to fit wearers in the same weight range,thereby giving the later stage garment more of an “underwear” feel andappearance. These later stage garments may also have side panels thatare more stretchable than any side panels in any of the other garmentsin the series, thereby enabling the later stage garments to fit a widerweight range of wearers.

In another embodiment of the invention, the series may include two ormore sub-series, with a first sub-series of at least three garment typesvarying in size to accommodate a wide range of wearers in the earlyand/or middle stages of toilet training, and a second sub-series of atleast three garment types also varying in size to accommodate a widerange of wearers in the later stages of toilet training. The garmenttypes in the second sub-series each have a lower absorbent capacity thanthe garments in the first sub-series, and the garment types in thesecond sub-series also have a shorter length chassis than each of thegarment types in the first sub-series in each weight range.

Additional features that may be present in some or all of the garmentsin the series to make the training process more convenient, efficient orunderstandable include sensory signals, such as tactile wetnessindicators or visual wetness indicators. For example, since a child inthe early stages of toilet training has not yet developed tactiledetection of wet and dry, visual wetness indicators may help the childidentify a need for a clean training pant early on in the toilettraining process. Later on in the toilet training process, after thechild has developed tactile awareness, a tactile wetness indicator, suchas a wet liner, may be appropriate to enhance the child's wetnessdetection.

With the foregoing in mind, particular embodiments of the inventionprovide a method of concurrently providing a series of types ofdisposable training pants to consumers that address a child's needs asthe child progresses through the toilet training process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a series of absorbent garments,according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 1 b is a perspective view of a series of absorbent garments,according to another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of one of a series of absorbentgarments, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the absorbent garment of FIG. 2 in a partiallydisassembled, stretched flat state, and showing the surface of thegarment that faces away from the wearer when the garment is worn,according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the absorbent garment of FIGS. 2 and 3 in apartially disassembled, stretched flat state, and showing the surface ofthe garment that faces the wearer when the article is worn, and withportions cut away to show the underlying features, according to oneembodiment of this invention; and

FIGS. 5-7 representatively show a partially cut away top view, a sideview, and a rear view, respectively, of a Saturated Capacity Tester.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pant of the type shown in FIG. 2 disposed on atensile tester to measure waist circumference.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a tensile tester used to measure waistcircumference, as shown in FIG. 8.

DEFINITIONS

Within the context of this specification, each term or phrase below willinclude the following meaning or meanings.

Within the context of this specification, each term or phrase below willinclude the following meaning or meanings.

“Absorbent capacity” or “absorbency” refers to the maximum volume ofliquid that can be absorbed by a material without any runoff occurring.

“Anticipated single insult volume” refers to the near-maximum amount ofurine or other exudates that can be expected to be expelled during asingle void or insult. More specifically, based on an average ofacquired data, the anticipated single insult volume is three standarddeviations higher than the mean single insult volume.

“Audio wetness indicator” refers to a device that signals the detectionof wetness via a sense of sound.

“Behavioral techniques” include demonstrating how you use the toilet;reminding the child to use the potty; limiting or keeping track ofchild's intake of fluids; running water while child is seated; praisingfor toileting progress; providing cloth training pants; providingdisposable training pants; providing potty seat/chair; letting childdecide when to go; not allowing diapers once started training; givingrewards for success; firm and consistent approach; verbal teaching andexplanation of toilet training; dressing the child in few/no clothes;disciplining the child; providing children's underwear/panties; placingon potty/toilet at certain intervals; monitoring child's behavior;having your child sit on the potty for a specified time period; usingolder children as role models (home or daycare); encouraging your childto be a “Big Kid;” and using toilet training videos and books tomotivate your child.

“Bonded” refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or thelike, of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be bondedtogether when they are bonded directly to one another or indirectly toone another, such as when each is directly bonded to intermediateelements.

“Disposable” refers to garments or articles which are designed to bediscarded after a limited use rather than being laundered or otherwiserestored for reuse.

“Disposed,” “disposed on,” and variations thereof are intended to meanthat one element can be integral with another element, or that oneelement can be a separate structure bonded to or placed with or placednear another element.

“Elastic,” “elasticized” and “elasticity” mean that property of amaterial or composite by virtue of which it tends to recover itsoriginal size and shape after removal of a force causing a deformation.

“Elastomeric” refers to a material or composite which can be elongatedby at least 25 percent of its relaxed length and which will recover,upon release of the applied force, at least 10 percent of itselongation. It is generally preferred that the elastomeric material orcomposite be capable of being elongated by at least 100 percent, morepreferably by at least 300 percent, of its relaxed length and recover,upon release of an applied force, at least 50 percent of its elongation.

“Fabric” is used to refer to all of the woven, knitted and nonwovenfibrous webs.

“Film” refers to a thermoplastic film made using a film extrusion and/orfoaming process, such as a cast film or blown film extrusion process.The term includes apertured films, slit films, and other porous filmswhich constitute liquid transfer films, as well as films which do nottransfer liquid.

“Gender-specific” describes an item that is designed to be more suitablefor one gender, either male or female, than the other.

“Hydrophilic” describes fibers or the surfaces of fibers which arewetted by the aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree ofwetting of the materials can, in turn, be described in terms of thecontact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids and materialsinvolved. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring thewettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materialscan be provided by a Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System, or asubstantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibershaving contact angles less than 90° are designated “wettable” orhydrophilic, while fibers having contact angles greater than 90° aredesignated “nonwettable” or hydrophobic.

“Integral” or “integrally” is used to refer to various portions of asingle unitary element rather than separate structures bonded to orplaced with or placed near one another.

“Layer” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a singleelement or a plurality of elements.

“Liquid-impermeable,” when used to describe a layer or laminate meansthat liquid such as urine will not pass through the layer or laminateunder ordinary use conditions in a direction generally perpendicular tothe plane of the layer or laminate at the point of liquid contact.

“Liquid-permeable,” refers to a layer or laminate that is not liquidimpermeable.

“Longitudinal” and “transverse” have their customary meaning, asindicated by the longitudinal and transverse axes depicted in FIGS. 3and 4. The longitudinal axis lies in the plane of the article and isgenerally parallel to a vertical plane that bisects a standing wearerinto left and right body halves when the article is worn. The transverseaxis lies in the plane of the article generally perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis. The article as illustrated is longer in thelongitudinal direction than in the transverse direction.

“Meltblown fiber” means fibers formed by extruding a moltenthermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular,die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging highvelocity heated gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate the filaments ofmolten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be tomicrofiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by thehigh velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface toform a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a process isdisclosed for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin et al.Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous ordiscontinuous, are generally smaller than about 0.6 denier, and aregenerally self bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface.Meltblown fibers used in the present invention are preferablysubstantially continuous in length.

“Member” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a singleelement or a plurality of elements.

“Nonwoven” and “nonwoven web” refer to materials and webs of materialwhich are formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knittingprocess.

“Operatively joined,” in reference to the attachment of an elasticmember to another element, means that the elastic member when attachedto or connected to the element, or treated with heat or chemicals, bystretching, or the like, gives the element elastic properties; and withreference to the attachment of a non-elastic member to another element,means that the member and element can be attached in any suitable mannerthat permits or allows them to perform the intended or describedfunction of the joint or junction. The joining, attaching, connecting orthe like can be either directly, such as joining either member directlyto an element, or can be indirectly by means of another member disposedbetween the first member and the first element.

“Permanently bonded” refers to the joining, adhering, connecting,attaching, or the like, of two elements of an absorbent garment suchthat the elements tend to be and remain bonded during normal useconditions of the absorbent garment.

“Polymers” include, but are not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers,such as for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers,terpolymers, etc. and blends and modifications thereof. Furthermore,unless otherwise specifically limited, the term “polymer” shall includeall possible geometrical configurations of the material. Theseconfigurations include, but are not limited to isotactic, syndiotacticand atactic symmetries.

“Refastenable” refers to the property of two elements being capable ofreleasable attachment, separation, and subsequent releasablereattachment without substantial permanent deformation or rupture.

“Series” refers to a set of two or more items having a similarappearance and/or functionality, with at least one feature, such asabsorbent capacity, evolving from one state, e.g. high absorbency, toanother, e.g. low absorbency, throughout the items in the series.

“Spunbonded fiber” refers to small diameter fibers which are formed byextruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality offine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular or otherconfiguration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments then beingrapidly reduced as by, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appelet al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Pat. No.3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 toKinney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,763 to Hartmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,538 toPetersen, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,542,615 to Dobo et al., each of which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Spunbond fibers arequenched and generally not tacky when they are deposited onto acollecting surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and oftenhave average deniers larger than about 0.3, more particularly, betweenabout 0.6 and 10.

“Stretchable” means that a material can be stretched, without breaking,to at least 1.2 times its initial (unstretched) length in at least onedirection.

“Superabsorbent” or “superabsorbent material” refers to awater-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable,under the most favorable conditions, of absorbing at least about 15times its weight and, more desirably, at least about 30 times its weightin an aqueous solution containing 0.9 weight percent sodium chloride.The superabsorbent materials can be natural, synthetic and modifiednatural polymers and materials. In addition, the superabsorbentmaterials can be inorganic materials, such as silica gels, or organiccompounds such as cross-linked polymers.

“Surface” includes any layer, film, woven, nonwoven, laminate,composite, or the like, whether pervious or impervious to air, gas,and/or liquids.

“Tactile wetness indicator” refers to a device that signals thedetection of wetness via a sense of touch.

“Thermoplastic” describes a material that softens when exposed to heatand which substantially returns to a nonsoftened condition when cooledto room temperature.

“Toilet training aids” include: potty training story books for children;potty training guide books for parents; potty training videotapes forchildren; progress charts with stickers; stickers alone as rewards;potty training dolls; miniature toilets; potty training flash cards;potty training tip sheets; potty training brochures and pamphlets;reward items, such as stickers, crayons, candy, toys or the like; urinetargets; potty training diplomas; starter kits containing a combinationof these items; potty chairs; musical potty chairs; wetness awarenessdevices, such as musical alarms, “feel wet” liners, or the like; andtoilet paper with children's graphics.

“Type,” as in “garment type,” refers to a garment style or design thatdiffers from another garment style or design, wherein the design maycorrelate to a functional aspect or feature of a garment, such as theinclusion of a wetness indicator, included in one garment and excludedfrom another otherwise identical garment.

“Unisex” describes an item that is designed to be equally suitable forboth genders, male and female.

“Visual wetness indicator” refers to a device that signals the detectionof wetness via a sense of sight.

“Wetness indicator” refers to a device that signals the detection ofwetness via a sensory device, such as by sight, sound, smell, or touch.

These terms may be defined with additional language in the remainingportions of the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method of concurrently providinga series of two or more types of disposable undergarments andcorresponding information pertaining to the toilet training process. Asused herein, the term “concurrently” means that each of the garments inthe series is commercially available at the same time, but does notimply that a consumer must buy all garments within the series at thesame time. The information provided in this method is intended toprovide a parent or caregiver, hereinafter simply referred to as acaregiver, with some guidance on how to select an appropriate absorbentarticle for a child during the toilet training process based on thecaregiver's knowledge of the child's abilities, attention span, andother personal characteristics that may have a bearing on the child'stoilet training progress.

The principles of the present invention can be incorporated into aseries of any suitable disposable absorbent article types, or a seriesof a combination of any suitable disposable absorbent article types.Examples of such suitable articles include, but are not limited to,pant-like articles such as diapers and training pants. Suitable articlesmay also include pads or liners or other suitable absorbent articlesthat can be inserted into pants. For ease of explanation, thedescription hereafter will be in terms of a series of children'straining pants.

Referring to FIG. 1 a, a series of types of pant-like disposableabsorbent garments or articles, such as training pants 20, isillustrated. For purposes of illustration, the series includes threetraining pants 20, but a series of training pants in accordance with thepresent invention can include as few as two training pants and as manydifferent training pants as necessary to address the needs of a childduring various stages of toilet training.

Each of the pants 20 in the series may differ from the others in termsof absorbent capacity, size, and/or special features. More particularly,an early stage training pant 120 suitably has a larger absorbentcapacity than a later stage training pant 124, while a middle stagetraining pant 122 may have an absorbent capacity between the early stageand late stage absorbent capacities or even greater than the early stageabsorbent capacity. Thus, the absorbent capacity may be inverselyrelated to a child's bladder control ability and can provide amotivation to the child to exercise that control.

For example, the early stage training pant 120 and middle stage trainingpant 122 suitably each have an absorbent capacity greater than about 400grams, while a later stage training pant 124 suitably has an absorbentcapacity of less than about 300 grams, or less than about 250 grams, orless than about 200 grams, as determined by the Saturated Capacity TestMethod, described in detail below.

Higher absorbent capacities are suitable in early stage training pants120 because children in the earlier stages of toilet training have notyet developed bowel and bladder control or wetness perception.Therefore, early stage training pants 120 are designed to containmultiple voids. As children make progress in toilet training, theirphysiological perceptions increase and their bowel and bladder controlimprove. Later stage training pants 124 are designed with lessabsorbency such that the training pants become saturated with lessliquid compared to the early stage training pants 120. As the trainingpant becomes saturated, the child will feel wet. When a child can detectwetness, the child is likely to stop voiding in the training pant if heor she can do so. Each of the training pants in the series providesleakage protection commensurate with the respective absorbent capacity.

Essentially, later stage training pants within the series provide achild with a one-chance opportunity. That is, the later stage trainingpants can be single void training pants designed to contain less thantwice an anticipated single insult volume, or even less than a singleanticipated insult volume. With the absorbent capacity being so low, thechild may face the consequence of a minor leakage if the child doesinsult the pant, which is much less severe in terms of clean-up comparedto cloth training pants. This single void training pant concept acts asa safety net for the caregiver inasmuch as the child's abilities are notsimply allowed to regress due to inconvenience as they might be if thecaregiver had to resort to applying a high-absorbency pant for timeswhen the caregiver is unable to be actively coaching the child. The lowabsorbent capacity pant is also a potentially useful tool for caregiverswho choose to use cloth pants at home, but wish to avoid theinconvenience of carrying a total change of clothes when out of thehouse with the child.

As another embodiment of the invention, the series may include garmentswith increased absorbency designed for use during various times withinthe later stages of toilet training when a need for increased absorbencyis foreseeable, such as at night, or during certain excitable events, orover longer than normal durations.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 a, overall size of the training pants withinthe series may vary. Since children continue to grow during the toilettraining process, the size of the garments may increase from the earlystage training pant 120 through the later stage training pant 124.Consequently, as the absorbent capacity of the training pant decreases,the size of the training pant 20 may increase. Alternatively, each typeof the training pants in the series may be available in each size of theseries, thereby accommodating users of all sizes as they grow during thetraining process.

For purposes of the present invention, the “size” of one garment typerelative to another garment type refers to a difference in the size oftheir waist openings, as determined by the waistband circumferenceprocedure described in detail below.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the series may include atleast three different types of disposable pant-like garments, with atleast two of the garments targeted to fit wearers in a lower weightrange, namely of a smaller size, than at least one of the other garmentsin the series. In this embodiment, the garment or garments targeted tofit wearers in a higher weight range, namely the larger garments, have alower absorbent capacity than the smaller garments.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 1b, the series may include at least three different types of disposablepant-like garments, with at least one of the garments targeted to fitwearers with a smaller waist size than at least two of the othergarments in the series. In this embodiment, one of the garments targetedto fit wearers with a larger waist size has a lower absorbent capacitythan either the smaller garment or the other garment targeted to fitwearers with a larger waist size. This embodiment provides an early ormiddle stage garment 121 for smaller wearers, an early or middle stagegarment 123 for larger wearers, as well as a later stage garment 124 forlarger wearers.

Later stage garments may differ from the early and middle stage garmentsnot only in terms of absorbent capacity but also in terms of appearance.More particularly, later stage garments may be designed to more closelyresemble underwear, with a lower cut such that the waistband falls belowa wearer's navel, consequently resulting in a shorter, lower ridingproduct in general. By delivering a lower product position on the child,a visually different fit is attained. This visual cue emphasizes thatthe later stage product is more like underwear and less like atraditional highly absorbent diaper or absorbent training product. Aslimmer, trimmer underwear-like appearance can provide further evidenceof differentiation from high absorbent pants in a series. Another reasonto move to a lower point on the child is that waist leakage tradeoffscan be a lower concern on the later stage garment in the series wherethe focus of leakage protection has shifted to a single-insult securitypant or insurance pant. In particular embodiments, the later stagegarments may have a longitudinal chassis length that is at least 4%, orat least 6%, or at least 8% shorter than a longitudinal chassis lengthof the early or middle stage garments, thereby creating the lower fitaround the wearer's waist region.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, the series includesat least two sub-series, of disposable pant-like garments. Eachsub-series includes one garment type in various sizes, such that ifthere are three garments in a first sub-series there are three garmentsof the same type in three different sizes. The garments in a secondsub-series may either cover, or at least overlap, the same sizes as thegarments in the first sub-series, with all of the garments in the firstsub-series having a higher absorbent capacity than the garments in thesecond sub-series. Furthermore, the garments in the second sub-seriesmay be lower-cut around the waist than the garments of corresponding oroverlapping sizes in the first sub-series. For example, the garments inthe second sub-series may have a longitudinal chassis length that is atleast 4%, or at least 6%, or at least 8% shorter than a longitudinalchassis length of a garment in the first sub-series of the same oroverlapping size. The garments in the second sub-series having this moreunderwear-like design may also have highly stretchable side panels thatenable the garments in the second sub-series to fit a wider size rangeof wearers, as described in greater detail below. For example, a garmentin the second sub-series may fit a size or weight range that overlapsthe size or weight ranges of two garment types in the first sub-series.This embodiment of sub-series in corresponding or corresponding sizes isdesigned to provide absorbent garments in a wide range of sizes that areeach available in a range of absorbent capacities suitable throughoutvarious stages of toilet training, since children become ready to toilettrain at different times from child to child, and not all children arethe same size at any single stage of the toilet training process.

Each of the pants in the series in each embodiment of the invention maydiffer from pant to pant in terms of absorbency, design, size and/orfeatures. For example, the pants 20 can be either unisex orgender-specific, or the earlier stage training pants 120 can be unisexwhile the later stage training pants 124 can be gender-specific. Otherfeatures include a pull-on design as opposed to a refastenable design,explained in detail below. Additional features that may make the seriesof training pants more convenient, efficient, or understandable includewetness indicators. A wet liner or other tactile wetness indicator isparticularly suitable for inclusion in later stage training pants 124which are typically worn when a wearer has developed a recognition ofthe feeling of wetness. A visual wetness indicator 126 may beparticularly suitable for inclusion in earlier stage training pants 120which are typically worn when a wearer may not have developed arecognition of the feeling of wetness but is likely to be able to see awetness indicator, such as a graphic, disappear when wetness occurs.Other types of wetness indicators may include audio wetness indicatorsin which a sound is made when wetness is detected, or olfactory wetnessindicators in which a scent is emitted when wetness is detected.

In carrying out the method of the invention, information regardingcorrelations between a child's readiness and the appropriate trainingpant from the series may be made available to consumers contemplatingthe purchase of one of the types of training pants in the series. Anexample of such information is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No.6,250,929, issued to Kolb, et al., hereby incorporated by reference.

More particularly, in terms of information provided for the purchaser,the key to communicating is helping the caregiver know when the child isready to switch to lower absorbency training pants. To ease into lowerabsorbency training pants, a child may begin by wearing a training panthaving a visual wetness indicator and then switch to a training panthaving a tactile wetness indicator. Ways of conveying information to thecaregiver that may help the caregiver determine the readiness for toilettraining as well as the most appropriate training garment for his or hercharge may include displays, posters, computer programs, brochures,package literature, shelf information, videos, information on the backof a coupon, or any other suitable form of communication. Theinformation could be available at stores, on television, incomputer-friendly form, in advertisements, or any other appropriatevenue.

As another example of information that may be provided for thepurchaser, a progress scale may be presented to evaluate a child'stoilet training progress at a particular point in time. Feedback in theform of specific toilet training recommendations that match a productfrom the series to the child's current stage of toilet training may alsobe made available.

The toilet training progress scale may include a plurality of questionsabout learned skills related to toilet training and may also include aresponse format for each question including a plurality of responsevalues, the response values cumulatively generating a toilet trainingprogress value having a range of possible resulting values; dividing therange of possible resulting values into a plurality of sub-rangesrepresenting a plurality of stages of toilet training; generating aplurality of recommendations for improving the effectiveness of thechild's toilet training regime; dividing the recommendations into aplurality of unique groups corresponding to the plurality of stages oftoilet training; assessing the child's toilet training progress usingthe toilet training progress scale, including calculating a toilettraining progress value for the child; matching the child's toilettraining progress value to one of the sub-ranges representing aparticular stage of toilet training; selecting the group ofrecommendations that including recommended pants from the series,corresponds to the child's particular stage of toilet training; andoutputting the selected group of recommendations.

The toilet training progress scale is used to assess a child's toilettraining progress at a particular point in time, and may be used atdifferent points in time to measure improvement and/or regression duringthe toilet training process. For example, the progress scale may includea series of questions about learned skills related to toilet training. Acaregiver responds to specific questions about the child's toilettraining progress. The questions about learned skills may concern, forexample, the frequency and location of urination or bowel movements(BM), use of the bathroom, understanding of toilet training terms,activities handled independently by the child, and communications fromthe child about the need to use the bathroom.

Each question includes a response format having a plurality of responsevalues, such as “yes” or “no.” The response values may be textual innature but are desirably assigned a numerical value, such as 1 for “yes”and 0 for “no.” Desirably, the response format or each question includes3 or more response values, particularly 4 or more response values, andmore particularly 5 or more response values. An example of a responseformat with 3 response values is “never,” “sometimes,” and “always,”which may be assigned numerical values of −1, 0 and 1; 0, 1 and 2; 0, 3and 5; or the like. Including a greater number of response values allowsthe strength of response to be measured, for example with qualitativequestions such as whether your child knows how to urinate in the potty,and allows a wider number of frequencies to be measured, such as withquantitative questions such as how many times per day does your childsit on the toilet.

The result of the progress scale is a “toilet training progress value”that represents the cumulative value of each of the question responsevalues. The toilet training progress value may consist simply of the sumor the average of the individual question response values. Moredesirably, the response values are differentially weighted dependingupon the significance of the relationship between toilet training andthe subject of the question. The differentially weighted response valuesmay then be added together or averaged in order to generate the toilettraining progress value. As used herein, the terms “cumulative” and“cumulatively” refer to combining the question response values to obtainthe toilet training progress value; they are not limited to a specificmathematical approach for combining the response values.

The toilet training progress value represents a concrete and tangibleresult that can be used for several useful outcomes, including:evaluating the present stage of toilet training; comparing theeffectiveness of two or more different toilet training methods;assessing the performance of different toilet training aids; guidingfeedback to caregivers for assisting in the toilet training process,including tips and techniques that are likely to be effective at thatstage; and recommending a most appropriate absorbent article or trainingpant selected from the series.

The range of possible resulting values using the progress scale can bedivided into a plurality of sub-ranges that represent various stages oftoilet training and/or various types of absorbent articles in theseries. By way of illustration, the lowest third of the range ofpossible resulting values may represent the early stages of toilettraining, the highest third of the range of possible resulting valuesmay represent the later or final stages of toilet training, and themiddle third of the range of possible resulting values may represent theintermediate stages of toilet training. Alternatively, a greater numberof sub-ranges may be used to represent a greater number of stages oftoilet training and/or a greater number of types of absorbent articles.

Particularly beneficial, a child's toilet training status can bedetermined using the progress scale for the purpose of providingappropriate tips and guidance on toilet training. As a child progressesthrough toilet training, a caregiver faces different issues. Forexample, very early in the process just determining if the child isready to begin training is of primary importance. Later in the process,issues such as the child being aware of accidents or learning to let thecaregiver know before having an accident are bigger concerns.

By using the progress scale to first assess exactly how far the childhas progressed in training, tailored guidance can be dispensed to eachcaregiver individually. In particular, a variety of recommendationspertaining to toilet training may be divided into unique groups that areparticularly appropriate for the enumerated stages of toilet training.The recommendations may additionally be divided into groups taking intoconsideration the age and gender of the child. The groups may have somecommon recommendations, but desirably the groups will includerecommendations that are specific to the targeted stage of training.Although less desirable, where the recommendations are divided into alarge number of groups, a minor percentage of the groups can beidentical to one another.

Recommendations related to toilet training that might be provided to acaregiver are divided into four categories: information on toilettraining garments and toilet training aids, information on trainingtips, typical child behaviors to monitor, and recommendations ofappropriate absorbent garments designed to accommodate a particular sizechild during a particular stage of the toilet training process. In onescenario, for example, a caregiver completes the survey and the scoreindicates that the child is just getting started with toilet trainingand a pant-like garment having a relatively high absorbent capacity maybe most appropriate. The following points might be woven into a feedbackmessage.

-   -   If you haven't yet purchased a potty chair, allow your child to        help pick one out at the store. Making your child part of the        process helps your child get excited about starting training.        (Tips/Guidance for Early Stage)    -   Introduce disposable training pants, with a recommended style        and/or size. Make a big deal out of them. Explain to your child        that these are “Big Kid” pants and Big Kids use the potty.        (Training Garments for Early Stage)

In another scenario, a caregiver completes the progress survey and thescore indicates that the child is about half complete with toilettraining. The following points might be provided as a feedback message.

-   -   Don't be surprised if your child always says “no” when you ask        if they need to use the potty. Avoid this standoff by getting        your child in a routine of using the potty at regular intervals.        Don't ask them if they need to go, just tell them it's time to        use the potty. If you want, use an egg timer as a reminder so        that the child doesn't blame you for the interruption of play        that will happen when it's time to go. (Typical behavior/issue        and Tip/Guidance for Middle Stage)    -   Children at your child's age and stage may lose interest in        training after only a week or two. If this happens, you can try        to regain their interest by making sitting on the potty part of        a fun, made-up game. If you're using rewards, changing the        reward at this point may also help. If these or similar        activities don't get your child's attention back, take a break        from training. Come back to it in a month or two. (Typical        behavior/issue and Tip/Guidance for Middle Stage)    -   Including a recommendation of a particular size and/or style of        training pant.

The information provided in the present method is particularly suitedfor use by a caregiver over an electronic communication medium, such asan interactive web-site accessible via the internet. The progress scalemay be incorporated, by way of illustration, into a web page thatprovides instruction and guidance pertaining to toilet training. Inparticular embodiments, therefore, the method also comprises the stepsof: storing the toilet training progress scale on an electronic storagemedium; storing the recommendations for improving the effectiveness ofthe child's toilet training regime on an electronic storage medium;providing a user of an electronic communication medium with access tothe progress scale; transmitting data representing response values to aprocessor; providing instructions to the processor to calculate a toilettraining progress value from the transmitted data and select the groupof recommendations that corresponds to the child's particular stage oftoilet training; and outputting the selected group of recommendations tothe user via the electronic communication medium. A computer accessiblevia the internet could provide the necessary processor and storagemedium to carry out this method. Alternatively, a caregiver couldcomplete the progress scale and obtain targeted recommendations using atelephone system.

As can be appreciated, computers and electronic communication media suchas the internet are particularly suited to transforming data from theprogress scale, representing psychological aspects of a child andphysiological development stages of a child, through a series ofmathematical calculations into a toilet training progress value. Thisvalue can then be used in combination with other parameters, such as theage and gender of the child, to provide tailored recommendations fortoilet training.

Another method for improving the effectiveness of a child's toilettraining regime measures changes in the toilet training progress valueover time and selects particular toilet training recommendations,including recommendations of particular pants in the series, suited forthe stage of toilet training and the amount of improvement over time.

Thus, in one embodiment, use of the progress scale can comprise thesteps of: assessing the child's toilet training progress at an initialpoint in time using a toilet training progress scale, the progress scalecomprising a plurality of questions about learned skills related totoilet training; calculating a first toilet training progress value forthe initial point in time; assessing the child's toilet trainingprogress at a subsequent point in time using the progress scale, thesubsequent point in time about four days or more after the initial pointin time; calculating a second toilet training progress value for thesubsequent point in time; comparing the first and second toilet trainingprogress values to obtain a progress indicator; generating a pluralityof recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the child's toilettraining regime; dividing the recommendations into a plurality of uniquegroups corresponding to a plurality of stages of toilet training;selecting one of the groups of recommendations based on the value of oneof the toilet training progress values and the value of the progressindicator; and outputting the selected group of recommendations,including a recommendation of a particular pant product from the seriesthat corresponds to the child's toilet training progress.

The progress indicator may comprise, for example, the difference betweenthe first and second toilet training progress values. The magnitude ofthe difference may then be used to select the appropriate group oftoilet training recommendations for the child. When the progressindicator reveals that the child has not improved or has regressed intraining, the appropriate group of recommendations might includechanging a reward, using an older sibling as a role model, or eventerminating training for a while.

This method also embodies the concept that the suitableness of therecommendations will depend in part on the stage of training of thechild. In addition to selecting an appropriate group of recommendationsbased on the value of the progress indicator, the stage of trainingagain should be considered. For example, a different group ofrecommendations would be warranted for a child at the early stages oftraining compared to the late stages of training, even when the value ofthe progress indicator is the same. The method could use either one ofthe first or second toilet training progress values.

A detailed drawing of one of the training pants 20 of the invention isshown in FIG. 2, with the training pant 20 in a partially fastenedcondition. The training pant 20 includes a chassis 32 and may alsoinclude a fastening system 80. The chassis 32 defines a front region 22,a back region 24, a crotch region 26 interconnecting the front and backregions, an inner surface 28 which is configured to contact the wearer,and an outer surface 30 opposite the inner surface which is configuredto contact the wearer's clothing. As shown in further detail in FIGS. 3and 4, the chassis 32 also defines a pair of transversely opposed sideedges 36 and a pair of longitudinally opposed waist edges, which aredesignated front waist edge 38 and back waist edge 39. The front region22 is contiguous with the front waist edge 38, and the back region 24 iscontiguous with the back waist edge 39.

The illustrated chassis 32 includes a somewhat rectangular compositestructure 33, a pair of transversely opposed front side panels 34, and apair of transversely opposed back side panels 234. The compositestructure 33 and side panels 34 and 234 may be integrally formed, asshown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, or may include two or more separateelements, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The illustrated composite structure33 includes an outer cover 40, a bodyside liner 42 which is connected tothe outer cover in a superposed relation, and an absorbent assembly 44(FIG. 4) which is positioned or located between the outer cover 40 andthe bodyside liner 42. The composite structure 33 may also include apair of containment flaps 46, as shown in FIG. 4. The rectangularcomposite structure 33 has opposite linear end edges 45 that formportions of the front and back waist edges 38 and 39, and oppositelinear or curvilinear side edges 47 that form portions of the side edges36 of the chassis 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4). For reference, arrows 48 and 49depicting the orientation of the longitudinal axis and the transverseaxis, respectively, of the training pant 20 are illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4.

The outer cover 40 has a surface area indicative of the size of the pant20. Thus, among the training pants 20 within the series, the surfacearea of the outer cover 40 may increase from the early stage trainingpant 120 through the later stage training pant 124 or may remain aboutthe same from one stage to the next.

With the training pant 20 in the fastened position as partiallyillustrated in FIG. 2, the front and back regions 22 and 24 are joinedtogether to define a three-dimensional pant configuration having a waistopening 50 and a pair of leg openings 52. The front region 22 includesthe portion of the training pant 20 which, when worn, is positioned onthe front of the wearer while the back region 24 includes the portion ofthe training pant which, when worn, is positioned on the back of thewearer. The crotch region 26 of the training pant 20 includes theportion of the training pant which, when worn, is positioned between thelegs of the wearer and covers the lower torso of the wearer. The frontand back side panels 34 and 234 include the portions of the trainingpant 20 which, when worn, are positioned on the hips of the wearer.

The front region 22 of the chassis 32 includes the transversely opposedfront side panels 34 and a front center panel 35 (FIGS. 3 and 4)positioned between and interconnecting the side panels, along with afront waist elastic member 54 and any other connected components. Theback region 24 of the chassis 32 includes the transversely opposed backside panels 234 and a back center panel 135 (FIGS. 3 and 4) positionedbetween and interconnecting the side panels, as well as a rear waistelastic member 56 and any other connected components. The waist edges 38and 39 of the chassis 32 are configured to encircle the waist of thewearer when worn and provide the waist opening 50 which defines a waistperimeter dimension. Portions of the transversely opposed side edges 36in the crotch region 26 generally define the leg openings 52.

The chassis 32 is configured to contain and/or absorb any body exudatesdischarged from the wearer. For example, the chassis 32 desirably,although not necessarily, includes the pair of containment flaps 46which are configured to provide a barrier to the transverse flow of bodyexudates. A flap elastic member 53 (FIG. 4) is operatively joined witheach containment flap 46 in any suitable manner as is well known in theart. The elasticized containment flaps 46 define an unattached edgewhich assumes an upright, generally perpendicular configuration in atleast the crotch region 26 of the training pant 20 to form a sealagainst the wearer's body. The containment flaps 46 can be located alongthe transversely opposed side edges of the chassis 32, and can extendlongitudinally along the entire length of the chassis or may only extendpartially along the length of the chassis. Suitable constructions andarrangements for the containment flaps 46 are generally well known tothose skilled in the art and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,116issued Nov. 3, 1987 to Enloe, which is incorporated herein by reference.

To further enhance containment and/or absorption of body exudates, thetraining pant 20 desirably includes the front waist elastic member 54,the rear waist elastic member 56, and leg elastic members 58, as areknown to those skilled in the art (FIG. 4). The waist elastic members 54and 56 can be operatively joined to the outer cover 40 and/or bodysideliner 42 along the opposite waist edges 38 and 39, and can extend overpart or all of the waist edges. The leg elastic members 58 are desirablyoperatively joined to the outer cover 40 and/or bodyside liner 42 alongthe opposite side edges 36 and positioned in the crotch region 26 of thetraining pant 20. The leg elastic members 58 are desirablylongitudinally aligned along each side edge 47 of the compositestructure 33. Each leg elastic member 58 has a front terminal point 63and a back terminal point 65, which points represent the longitudinalends of the elastic gathering caused by the leg elastic members. Thefront terminal points 63 are desirably located adjacent thelongitudinally innermost parts of the front side panels 34, and the backterminal points 65 are desirably located adjacent the longitudinallyinnermost parts of the back side panels 234.

The flap elastic members 53, the waist elastic members 54 and 56, andthe leg elastic members 58 can be formed of any suitable elasticmaterial. As is well known to those skilled in the art, suitable elasticmaterials include sheets, strands or ribbons of natural rubber,synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic elastomeric polymers. The elasticmaterials can be stretched and adhered to a substrate, adhered to agathered substrate, or adhered to a substrate and then elasticized orshrunk, for example with the application of heat; such that elasticconstrictive forces are imparted to the substrate. In one particularembodiment, for example, the leg elastic members 58 include a pluralityof dry-spun coalesced multifilament spandex elastomeric threads soldunder the trade name LYCRA® and available from E.I. DuPont de Nemoursand Company, Wilmington, Del., U.S.A.

The outer cover 40 desirably includes a material that is substantiallyliquid impermeable, and can be elastic, stretchable or nonstretchable.The outer cover 40 can be a single layer of liquid impermeable material,but desirably includes a multi-layered laminate structure in which atleast one of the layers is liquid impermeable. For instance, the outercover 40 can include a liquid permeable outer layer and a liquidimpermeable inner layer that are suitably joined together by a laminateadhesive (not shown). Suitable laminate adhesives, which can be appliedcontinuously or intermittently as beads, a spray, parallel swirls, orthe like, can be obtained from Findley Adhesives, Inc., of Wauwatosa,Wis., U.S.A., or from National Starch and Chemical Company, Bridgewater,N.J., U.S.A. The liquid permeable outer layer can be any suitablematerial and desirably one that provides a generally cloth-like texture.One example of such a material is a 20 gsm (grams per square meter)spunbond polypropylene nonwoven web. The outer layer may also be made ofthose materials of which liquid permeable bodyside liner 42 is made.While it is not a necessity for the outer layer to be liquid permeable,it is desired that it provides a relatively cloth-like texture to thewearer.

The inner layer of the outer cover 40 can be both liquid and vaporimpermeable, or can be liquid impermeable and vapor permeable. The innerlayer is desirably manufactured from a thin plastic film, although otherflexible liquid impermeable materials may also be used. The inner layer,or the liquid impermeable outer cover 40 when a single layer, preventswaste material from wetting articles, such as bedsheets and clothing, aswell as the wearer and care giver. A suitable liquid impermeable filmfor use as a liquid impermeable inner layer, or a single layer liquidimpermeable outer cover 40, is a 0.2 millimeter polyethylene filmcommercially available from Huntsman Packaging of Newport News, Va.,U.S.A. If the outer cover 40 is a single layer of material, it can beembossed and/or matte finished to provide a more cloth-like appearance.As earlier mentioned, the liquid impermeable material can permit vaporsto escape from the interior of the disposable absorbent article, whilestill preventing liquids from passing through the outer cover 40. Asuitable “breathable” material is composed of a microporous polymer filmor a nonwoven fabric that has been coated or otherwise treated to imparta desired level of liquid impermeability. A suitable microporous film isa PMP-1 film material commercially available from Mitsui ToatsuChemicals, Inc., Tokyo, Japan, or an XKO-8044 polyolefin filmcommercially available from 3M Company, Minneapolis, Minn.

The liquid permeable bodyside liner 42 is illustrated as overlying theouter cover 40 and absorbent assembly 44, and may but need not have thesame dimensions as the outer cover 40. The bodyside liner 42 isdesirably compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer'sskin. Further, the bodyside liner 42 can be less hydrophilic than theabsorbent assembly 44, to present a relatively dry surface to the wearerand permit liquid to readily penetrate through its thickness.

The bodyside liner 42 can be manufactured from a wide selection of webmaterials, such as synthetic fibers (for example, polyester orpolypropylene fibers), natural fibers (for example, wood or cottonfibers), a combination of natural and synthetic fibers, porous foams,reticulated foams, apertured plastic films, or the like. Various wovenand nonwoven fabrics can be used for the bodyside liner 42. For example,the bodyside liner can be composed of a meltblown or spunbonded web ofpolyolefin fibers. The bodyside liner can also be a bonded-carded webcomposed of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The bodyside liner can becomposed of a substantially hydrophobic material, and the hydrophobicmaterial can, optionally, be treated with a surfactant or otherwiseprocessed to impart a desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity.For example, the material can be surface treated with about 0.45 weightpercent of a surfactant mixture including AHCOVEL® N-62 available fromUniqema Inc., a division of ICI of New Castle, Del., U.S.A. andGLUCOPON® 220UP available from Cognis Corporation of Ambler, Pa., andproduced in Cincinnati, Ohio, in an active ratio of 3:1. The surfactantcan be applied by any conventional means, such as spraying, printing,brush coating or the like. The surfactant can be applied to the entirebodyside liner 42 or can be selectively applied to particular sectionsof the bodyside liner, such as the medial section along the longitudinalcenterline.

A suitable liquid permeable bodyside liner 42 is a nonwoven bicomponentweb having a basis weight of about 27 gsm. The nonwoven bicomponent canbe a spunbond bicomponent web, or a bonded carded bicomponent web.Suitable bicomponent staple fibers include a polyethylene/polypropylenebicomponent fiber available from CHISSO Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Inthis particular bicomponent fiber, the polypropylene forms the core andthe polyethylene forms the sheath of the fiber. Other fiber orientationsare possible, such as multi-lobe, side-by-side, end-to-end, or the like.While the outer cover 40 and bodyside liner 42 can include elastomericmaterials, it can be desirable in some embodiments for the compositestructure to be generally inelastic, where the outer cover, the bodysideliner and the absorbent assembly include materials that are generallynot elastomeric.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the absorbentassembly 44, as shown in FIG. 4, is positioned or located between theouter cover 40 and the bodyside liner 42, which components can be joinedtogether by any suitable means, such as adhesives, as are well known inthe art. Since the absorbent capacity may vary from pant to pant in theseries, the absorbent assembly 44 also may vary from pant to pant in theseries. The absorbent assembly may vary by thickness, mass, and/orcomposition. For example, the absorbent assembly 44 of the later stagetraining pant 124 is suitably thinner, of lower mass, and/or includes aless absorbent composition compared to the earlier stage training pants120. Bladder capacity is variable, as is bladder fullness at voiding.Children may be ready for toilet training at different ages anddifferent sizes, and may not progress linearly through the stages oftraining. Accordingly, a wide range of absorbent capacities among thetraining pants in the series is suitable.

Absorbent capacity of the absorbent article 20 is based on theanticipated insult volume of a single void. Absorbent capacity can bemeasured according to the Saturation Capacity Test Method, describedbelow. The absorbent capacity of the garment 20 can be adjusted toaccommodate insults across a wide range of user positions, includingstanding, sitting and prone. Examples of suitable absorbent capacitiesmay range as high as three times the median anticipated insult size forearly or middle stage training pants 120, 122, down to less than twicethe median anticipated single void volume or less for later stagetraining pants 124. For example, the series of training pants 20 can bedesigned and produced to accommodate children between about 18 monthsand about 48 months old, with insult volumes from 30 ml to 180 ml, orfrom less than 50 ml to 150 ml, and higher if necessary. Anticipatedsingle void insult size is typically less than 60 ml but can be greaterthan 100 ml.

This absorbent article capacity and product design provides betterleakage performance than cloth training pants or underwear, with lowleakage probabilities for insults below the anticipated single voidvolume. When leaks do occur, the severity of the leak is kept at amanageable level. Leakage performance of the product is enhanced by thecontainment flaps 46 and the leg elastics 58.

An absorbent assembly 44 including a fluff pulp and superabsorbentmaterial, for example, possibly in combination with other components, isable to retain a specific amount of fluid that is determined by theindividual fluid capacities of the components and their relativepercentages within the absorbent structure 44. The superabsorbentmaterial, or superabsorbent polymer (SAP), is highly efficient, whereasthe fluff pulp material is moderately efficient. An “efficient”absorbent structure will retain a relatively large volume of fluid,whereas an “inefficient” absorbent structure will retain a relativelysmall volume of fluid.

The absorbent assembly 44 can be any structure which is generallycompressible, conformable, non-irritating to the wearer's skin, andcapable of absorbing and retaining liquids and certain body wastes atthe levels discussed herein. The absorbent assembly 44 can bemanufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and from a widevariety of liquid absorbent materials commonly used in the art. Forexample, the absorbent assembly 44 can suitably include a matrix ofhydrophilic fibers, such as a web of cellulosic fluff, mixed withparticles of a high-absorbency material commonly known as superabsorbentmaterial. In a particular embodiment, the absorbent assembly 44 includesa matrix of cellulosic fluff, such as wood pulp fluff, andsuperabsorbent hydrogel-forming particles. The wood pulp fluff can beexchanged with synthetic, polymeric, meltblown fibers or with acombination of meltblown fibers and natural fibers. The superabsorbentparticles can be substantially homogeneously mixed with the hydrophilicfibers or can be nonuniformly mixed. The fluff and superabsorbentparticles can also be selectively placed into desired zones of theabsorbent assembly 44 to better contain and absorb body exudates. Theconcentration of the superabsorbent particles can also vary through thethickness of the absorbent assembly 44. Alternatively, the absorbentassembly 44 can include a laminate of fibrous webs and superabsorbentmaterial or other suitable means of maintaining a superabsorbentmaterial in a localized area.

Suitable superabsorbent materials can be selected from natural,synthetic, and modified natural polymers and materials. Thesuperabsorbent materials can be inorganic materials, such as silicagels, or organic compounds, such as crosslinked polymers. Suitablesuperabsorbent materials are available from various commercial vendors,such as Dow Chemical Company located in Midland, Mich., U.S.A., andStockhausen GmbH & Co. KG, D-47805 Krefeld, Federal Republic of Germany.Typically, a superabsorbent material is capable of absorbing at leastabout 15 times its weight in water, and desirably is capable ofabsorbing more than about 25 times its weight in water.

Particularly in the later stage training pant 124, the absorbentassembly 44 can include an extremely thin absorbent composite materialsold under the trade name NOVATHIN® available from EAM Corporationlocated in Jessup, Ga., U.S.A., and/or an ultra-thin-absorbent (UTA)material including a mixture of SAP and pulp fiber. An example of asuitable UTA may include 3.7 grams (g) of FAVOR® SXM 9543 SAP, availablefrom Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG located in Krefeld, Fed. Rep. of Germany,and 3.7 g of NB416 pulp fiber available from Weyerhauser located inFederal Way, Wash., with the sample's mass contained in an area of 0.037square meters, with a density of 0.33 grams per cubic centimeter.

In one embodiment, the absorbent assembly 44 can be generallyrectangular in shape, and can include a blend of wood pulp fluff andsuperabsorbent material. One preferred type of fluff is identified withthe trade designation CR1654, available from U.S. Alliance,Childersburg, Ala., U.S.A., and is a bleached, highly absorbent sulfatewood pulp containing primarily soft wood fibers. As a general rule, thesuperabsorbent material is present in the absorbent assembly 44 in anamount of from about 0 to about 90 weight percent based on total weightof the absorbent assembly 44. The absorbent assembly 44 suitably has adensity within the range of about 0.10 to about 0.50 grams per cubiccentimeter. The absorbent assembly 44 may or may not be wrapped orencompassed by a suitable tissue wrap that maintains the integrityand/or shape of the absorbent assembly 44.

The absorbent assembly 44, typically the most bulky component of atraining pant 20, may be relatively thin, particularly in the laterstage garment types in the present invention compared to the early ormiddle stage garment types. As a result, the overall thickness of thelater stage garment types of the present invention, as measuredaccording to the test method below, may be less than about 4.5millimeters (mm), or less than about 4 mm, or less than about 3 mm, orless than about 2 mm. Because the overall thickness of the garment isrelatively small, the garment can possess the look and feel of clothunderwear, thereby providing a smooth psychological transition tounderwear. Due to the minimal bulkiness of the garment, the overalllongitudinal length of the chassis, measured from the front waist edge38 to the back waist edge 39 as described in further detail in the testmethod below, can be shorter than bulkier garments while maintaining thesame position and fit as bulkier garments, thus creating a moreunderwear-like fit and appearance.

The chassis 32 can also incorporate other materials that are designedprimarily to receive, temporarily store, and/or transport liquid alongthe mutually facing surface with the absorbent assembly 44, therebymaximizing the overall absorbent capacity of the absorbent assembly 44,if desired. One suitable material is referred to as a surge layer (notshown) and includes a material having a basis weight of about 50 toabout 120 grams per square meter (gsm), and including athrough-air-bonded-carded web of a homogenous blend of 60 percent 3denier type T-256 bicomponent fiber including a polyestercore/polyethylene sheath and 40 percent 6 denier type T-295 polyesterfiber, both commercially available from Kosa Corporation of Salisbury,N.C., U.S.A. Another example of a suitable surge layer may include amaterial made of 6 denier polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and 6 denierbicomponent binder fiber, having a basis weight of about 50 to about 120gsm.

As noted previously, the illustrated training pant 20 has front and backside panels 34 and 234 disposed on each side of the chassis 32. Thesetransversely opposed front side panels 34 and transversely opposed backside panels 234 can be permanently bonded to the composite structure 33of the chassis 32 in the respective front and back regions 22 and 24,and can be releasably attached to one another by a fastening system 80.Alternatively, instead of being releasably attachable, the front andback side panels 34, 234 can be permanently bonded to one another,respectively, such that the longitudinal edges of each side panel ispermanently bonded to another piece of fabric, either to another sidepanel or to the chassis, to create a non-refastenable pant.

As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front side panels 34 can bepermanently bonded to and extend transversely beyond the linear sideedges 47 of the composite structure 33 in the front region 22 alongattachment lines 66, and the back side panels 234 can be permanentlybonded to and extend transversely beyond the linear side edges of thecomposite structure in the back region 24 along attachment lines 66. Theside panels 34 and 234 may be attached using attachment means known tothose skilled in the art such as adhesive, thermal or ultrasonicbonding. The side panels 34 and 234 can also be formed as a portion of acomponent of the composite structure 33, such as the outer cover 40 orthe bodyside liner 42.

In particular embodiments for improved fit and appearance, the sidepanels 34 and 234 can have an average length dimension measured parallelto the longitudinal axis 48 that is about 20 percent or greater, andparticularly about 25 percent or greater, of the overall lengthdimension of the absorbent article, also measured parallel to thelongitudinal axis 48. For example, in training pants having an overalllength dimension of about 54 centimeters, the side panels 34 and 234 canhave an average length dimension of about 10 centimeters or greater,such as about 15 centimeters. While each of the side panels 34 and 234extend from the waist opening 50 to one of the leg openings 52, the backside panels 234 have a continually decreasing length dimension movingfrom the attachment line 66 to a distal edge 68 b of the back panel 234,as is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Each of the side panels 34 and 234 can include one or more individual,distinct pieces of material. In particular embodiments, for example,each side panel 34 and 234 can include first and second side panelportions that are joined at a seam, with at least one of the portionsincluding an elastomeric material. Still alternatively, each individualside panel 34 and 234 can include a single piece of material which isfolded over upon itself along an intermediate fold line (not shown).

The side panels 34 and 234 desirably include an elastic material capableof stretching in a direction generally parallel to the transverse axis49 of the training pant 20. In particular embodiments, the front andback side panels 34 and 234 may each include an interior portion 78disposed between the distal edge 68 a, 68 b and the respective front orback center panel 35 or 135. In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 4,the interior portions 78 are disposed between the distal edges 68 a, 68b and the side edges 47 of the rectangular composite structure 33. Theelastic material of the side panels 34 and 234 can be disposed in theinterior portions 78 to render the side panels elastomeric in adirection generally parallel to the transverse axis 49. Most desirably,each side panel 34 and 234 is elastomeric from a waist end edge 72 to aleg end edge 70. More specifically, individual samples of side panelmaterial, taken between the waist end edge 72 and the leg end edge 70parallel to the transverse axis 49 and having a length from theattachment line 66 to the distal edge 68 a, 68 b and a width of about 2centimeters, are all elastomeric.

The later stage garment types of the invention, in particular, may havestretchable side panels with a considerably high stretch-to-stop value,such as at least 200%, or at least 220%, or at least 240%. Moreparticularly, the later stage garment types suitably have stretchableside panels with a stretch-to-stop value that is at least 20%, or atleast 40%, or at least 60% higher than earlier stage garment types inthe series. Such stretchable side panels, particularly in combinationwith a shorter chassis length, enable the garment to fit a relativelylarge range of wearers, and may, for example, accommodate a range ofsizes or weights that overlaps or spans two or more weight ranges ofother garment types. Furthermore, these stretchable side panels mayenable the later stage garment to fit a larger maximum waist size thanthe other garments in the series.

Suitable elastic materials, as well as one described process ofincorporating elastic side panels into a training pant, are described inthe following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,464 issued Jul. 10, 1990to Van Gompel et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,405 issued Jul. 6, 1993 toPohjola; U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,116 issued Apr. 14, 1992 to Pohjola; andU.S. Pat. No. 5,046,272 issued Sep. 10, 1991 to Vogt et al.; all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. In particular embodiments,the elastic material includes a stretch-thermal laminate (STL), aneck-bonded laminated (NBL), a reversibly necked laminate, or astretch-bonded laminate (SBL) material. Methods of making such materialsare well known to those skilled in the art and described in U.S. Pat.No. 4,663,220 issued May 5, 1987 to Wisneski et al.; U.S. Pat. No.5,226,992 issued Jul. 13, 1993 to Morman; and European PatentApplication No. EP 0 217 032 published on Apr. 8, 1987 in the names ofTaylor et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference.Alternatively, the side panel material may include other woven ornonwoven materials, such as those described above as being suitable forthe outer cover 40 or bodyside liner 42, or stretchable but inelasticmaterials.

As mentioned, the training pant 20 according to the present inventionmay include a fastening system 80 for securing the training pant aboutthe waist of the wearer (FIG. 2). The illustrated fastening system 80may include fastening components 82 that are adapted to refastenablyconnect to mating fastening components 84. In one embodiment, onesurface of each of the fastening components 82 and 84 includes aplurality of engaging elements that project from that surface. Theengaging elements of these fastening components 82 are adapted torepeatedly engage and disengage the engaging elements of the matingfastening components 84.

In one particular embodiment, the fastening components 82 each includehook type fasteners and the mating fastening components 84 each includecomplementary loop type fasteners. In another particular embodiment, thefastening components 82 each include loop type fasteners and the matingfastening components 84 each include complementary hook type fasteners.The fastening components 82 and the mating fastening components 84 aredesirably rectangular, although they may alternatively be square, round,oval, curved or otherwise non-rectangularly shaped.

Loop type fasteners typically include a fabric or material having a baseor backing structure and a plurality of loop members extending upwardlyfrom at least one surface of the backing structure. The loop materialcan be formed of any suitable material, such as acrylic, nylon orpolyester, and can be formed by methods such as warp knitting, stitchbonding or needle punching. Suitable loop materials are available fromGuilford Mills, Inc., Greensboro, N.C., U.S.A. under the tradedesignation No. 36549. In one embodiment, the outer cover materialand/or the body side liner material may serve as a loop type fastener.

Hook type fasteners typically include a fabric or material having a baseor backing structure and a plurality of hook members extending upwardlyfrom at least one surface of the backing structure. In contrast to theloop type fasteners which desirably include a flexible fabric, the hookmaterial advantageously includes a resilient material to minimizeunintentional disengagement of the fastener components as a result ofthe hook material becoming deformed and catching on clothing or otheritems. The term “resilient” as used herein refers to an interlockingmaterial having a predetermined shape and the property of theinterlocking material to resume the predetermined shape after beingengaged and disengaged from a mating, complementary interlockingmaterial. Suitable hook material can be molded or extruded of nylon,polypropylene or another suitable material. Suitable single-sided hookmaterials for the fastening components 82 or the mating fasteningcomponents 84 are available from Velcro Industries B.V., Amsterdam,Netherlands or affiliates thereof, and are identified as Velcro HTH-829with a uni-directional hook pattern and having a thickness of about0.089 millimeters (3.5 mils) and HTH-851 with a uni-directional hookpattern and having a thickness of about 0.051 millimeters (2 mils). Inone embodiment, the outer cover material and/or the body side linermaterial may serve as a hook type fastener.

As described herein, the various components of the absorbent garment 20can be integrally assembled together employing various types of suitableattachment means, such as adhesive, sonic and thermal bonds orcombinations thereof. The resulting product is a series of absorbentgarments having varying levels of absorbency. The garments in the seriesmay vary only by levels of absorbency, or may vary in terms of otherfeatures such as structure, size, or special features such as wetnessindicators.

Saturated Capacity Test Method

Saturated capacity is determined using a Saturated Capacity (SAT CAP)Tester with Magnahelic vacuum gage and latex dam: Referring to FIGS.5-7, a Saturated Capacity tester vacuum apparatus 110 comprises a vacuumchamber 112 supported on four leg members 114. Vacuum chamber 112includes a front wall member 116, a rear wall member 118 and two sidewalls 120 and 121. The wall members are about 0.5 inch thick, and areconstructed and arranged to provide a chamber having outside dimensionsmeasuring 23.5 inches in length, 14 inches in width and 8 inches indepth. A vacuum pump (not shown) operably connects with vacuum chamber112 through an appropriate vacuum line conduit and vacuum valve 124. Inaddition, a suitable air bleed line connects into vacuum chamber 112through air bleed valve 126. A hanger assembly 128 is suitably mountedon rear wall 118 and is configured with S-curved ends to provide aconvenient resting place for supporting latex dam sheet 130 in aconvenient position away from the top of vacuum apparatus 110. Asuitable hanger assembly can be constructed from 0.25 inch diameterstainless steel rod. Latex sheet 130 is looped around dowel member 132to facilitate grasping and allow a convenient movement and positioningof the latex sheet. In the illustrated position, dowel member 132 isshown supported in hanger assembly 128 to position the latex sheet 130in an open position away from the top of vacuum chamber 112. A bottomedge of latex sheet 130 is clamped against a rear edge support member134 with suitable securing means, such as toggle clamps 140. The toggleclamps are mounted on rear wall member 118 with suitable spacers 141which provide an appropriate orientation and alignment of the toggleclamps for the desired operation. Three support shafts 142 are 0.75 inchin diameter and are removably mounted within vacuum chamber 112 by meansof support brackets 144. The support brackets are generally equallyspaced along front wall member 116 and rear wall member 118 and arrangedin cooperating pairs. In addition the support brackets are constructedand arranged to suitably position the uppermost portions of supportshafts 142 flush with the top of the front, rear and side wall membersof vacuum chamber 112. Thus, support shafts 142 are positionedsubstantially parallel with one another and are generally aligned withside wall members 120 and 121. In addition to rear edge support member134, the tester apparatus includes a front support member 136 and twoside support members 138 and 139. Each edge support member measuresabout 1 inch in width and about 1.25 inches in height. The lengths ofthe support members are constructed to suitably surround the peripheryof the open top edges of vacuum chamber 112, and are positioned toprotrude above the top edges of the chamber wall members by a distanceof about 0.5 inch. A layer of egg crating type material 146 ispositioned on top of support shafts 142 and the top edges of the wallmembers of vacuum chamber 112. The egg crate material extends over agenerally rectangular area measuring 23.5 inches by 14 inches, and has adepth measurement of about 0.38 inches. The individual cells of the eggcrating structure measure about 0.5 inch square, and the thin sheetmaterial comprising the egg crating is composed of a suitable material,such as polystyrene. For example, the egg crating material can beMcMaster Supply Catalog No. 162 4K 14, translucent diffuser panelmaterial. A layer of 0.19 mesh nylon screening 148, which measures 23.5inches by 14 inches, is placed on top of egg crating material 146. Asuitable drain line and drain valve 150 connects to bottom plate member119 of vacuum chamber 112 to provide a convenient mechanism for drainingliquids from the vacuum chamber. The various wall members and supportmembers of tester 110 may be composed of a suitable non-corroding,moisture-resistant material, such as polycarbonate plastic. The variousassembly joints may be affixed by solvent welding, and the finishedassembly of the tester is constructed to be watertight. A vacuum gauge152 operably connects through a conduit into vacuum chamber 112. Asuitable pressure gauge is a Magnahelic differential gauge capable ofmeasuring a vacuum of 0-100 inches of water, such as a No. 2100 gaugeavailable from Dwyer Instrument Incorporated.

The dry product or other absorbent structure is weighed and then placedin excess 0.9% saline solution and allowed to soak for 20 minutes. Afterthe 20 minute soak time, the absorbent structure is placed on the eggcrate material and mesh nylon screening of the Saturated CapacityTester. The latex sheet is placed over the absorbent structure(s) andthe entire egg crate grid so that the sheet creates a seal when vacuumis drawn on the Tester. A vacuum of 0.5 pounds per square inch (psi) isheld in the Saturated Capacity Tester for five minutes. The vacuumcreates a pressure on the absorbent structure(s), causing drainage ofsome liquid. After five minutes at 0.5 psi vacuum, the latex sheet isrolled back and the absorbent structure(s) are weighed to generate a wetweight. The overall capacity of each absorbent structure is determinedby subtracting the dry weight of each absorbent from the wet weight ofthat absorbent determined at this point in the procedure. The 0.5 psiSAT CAP or SAT CAP of the absorbent structure is determined by thefollowing formula: (wet weight−dry weight)/(dry weight). The SAT CAPvalue has units of grams fluid/gram absorbent. For both overall capacityand SAT CAP, a minimum of four specimens of each sample should betested, and the results averaged. If the absorbent structure has lowintegrity or disintegrates during the soak or transfer procedures, theabsorbent structure can be wrapped in a containment material such aspaper toweling, for example HI-DRI® paper towels manufactured byKimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis. The absorbent structure can betested with the overwrap in place, and the capacity of the overwrap canbe independently determined and subtracted from the wet weight of thetotal wrapped absorbent structure to obtain a wet absorbent weight.

Thickness Measurement Test Method

A whole absorbent product can be measured for thickness in the thickestpart of the product, usually in the target zone that is intended toreceive liquid insults. When measured by the method described below,such a product suitably may have a dry thickness (t_(i)) of less thanabout 4.5 mm, more suitably less than about 4.0 mm, even more suitablyless than about 3.0 mm, most suitably less than about 2.0 mm. Forexample, in one embodiment of this invention, the absorbent garment mayhave a dry thickness of about 0.5 to about 3.0 mm.

If the sample exhibits greatest thickness in the target region of theproduct, the sample can be tested in this location by the followingmethod. Samples with greater thickness outside the target region shouldbe tested in the location of greatest thickness.

The sample to be tested is folded in half as for wearing, with front andback waist edges aligned. The liner of the product is marked at the foldline. The product is opened and laid flat, and the front region of theabsorbent is marked halfway between the marked fold and the front edgeof the absorbent, along the longitudinal centerline of the product. Ifthe product is closed (such as with side seams), the seams are opened sothat the product can be laid flat. Elastics (such as along leg bordersor in containment flaps) are removed if possible, or cut in severalplaces to permit the absorbent to lie flat in an uncontracted state.

The sample is tested for dry thickness at the marked point on the frontof the absorbent, forward of the marked fold line. The intact product isgently spread flat to remove any wrinkles at this location, but is notstretched. The product is placed underneath a 0.2 pounds per square inch(psi) weight, and the thickness of the product in this region isrecorded. A suitable tester for absorbent thickness is a MITUTOYO 543Series thickness gauge, available from Mitutoyo-MTI Corporation, Japan,equipped with a 3 inch diameter brass foot that applies a weight of 0.2psi. Five specimens per sample are tested, and the results are averagedto provide a thickness value for that sample.

Longitudinal Length Measurement Test Method

The product (20) has a length dimension measured between the front andback end edges (38 and 39) along the longitudinal axis (48). The lengthdimension of the product (20) is determined.

A suitable method for determining the longitudinal length of the product(20) is to hang the product vertically adjacent a flat, verticalsurface. Prior to hanging, the product is opened by cutting or openingany side seams. Any elastic components that run the length of thechassis (such as leg elastics or elastics within containment flaps) aresevered at least once per inch along their entire length. The product ishung with the back region (24) above the front region (22) and with thesurface intended to face the wearer's outer garments during usepositioned toward the flat, vertical surface. The top end margin of theproduct is held horizontal with two clamps, the inner edges of which arespaced 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) apart. The clamps are positioned if possibleto avoid any absorbent within the product, and are symmetricallydisposed with respect to the longitudinal centerline/axis of theproduct. Any waist elastic present in the product is not stretched priorto securing the clamps.

The lower end of the hanging product (front waistband region) is clampedwith a jig weighing 250 g. The jig possesses two clamp units (mediumsize, Bulldog clips, 2⅛ inch) attached to a tie rod (¼-inch−20×12inches, coarse thread, zinc plated), the clamps symmetrically placedwith respect to the longitudinal centerline of the product, with aspacing between internal edges of the clamps of 3.5 inches (8.9 cm),with a ¼-inch nut placed at the inner and outer edges of each clamp tohold the clamps in place. One (capped) bottle (1-ounce plastic screw capbottle, such as NALGENE brand) is attached to each clamp with a piece ofstring. The assembly is placed on a laboratory balance and lead shot(No. 5 chilled lead shot, such as LAWRENCE brand) is added to eachbottle (in equal amounts) until the total weight of the jig is as closeto 250 grams as possible. The jig is attached to the lower end of thehanging product, as mentioned above.

For a typical product, a load of 250 g is appropriate. The elongatelength is then determined by measuring the distance between the frontand back end edges (38 and 39) along the longitudinal centerline/axis(48), between the clamps. Five specimens of each code are analyzed, andthe results for each code are averaged.

Waistband Circumference Procedure

This procedure is a single-cycle tension bench test to measure waistbandcircumferences of a test product under two different tensions. Theprocedure measures waistband circumferences under a relatively lowtension and also under a relatively high tension. A test product iscycled to a specific loading rather than to a fixedelongation/extension. The circumference values for a given sample areused as measurements of product size, and the difference between the lowand high tension circumference values for a given sample are used as ameasure of the breadth of size range that the sample will fit. A samplewith a relatively broad size range will fit more different sizes ofwearers than a sample with a relatively narrow size range.

-   Data generated by this test method include:-   Waistband circumference (mm) at an initial load of 250 g.-   Waistband circumference (mm) at a final (peak) load of 500 g.

Overview

A product is placed on the upper and lower pins in position to measurethe waistband gage length, as shown in FIG. 8. The gage length isselected for the waist opening of the product being tested, so as toprovide a tension of between 0 and 65 grams (g) when the product ispositioned for the test, prior to the start of the test. The term“tension” refers to the gram value measured by the load cells in thetensile tester.

The jaws are separated until a load of 250 grams of tension is attained,at which tension the gage length is recorded. Then the jaws continue tomove apart until 500 grams of tension is reached, at which tension thegage length is again recorded. The standard test is one cycle perproduct, although more can be used, and extension and tension data canbe collected at 25 gram tension increments if desired. The circumferenceat a given tension may be calculated using the gage length and thecircumference value(s) for the upper and lower pins. Desirably at least3 specimens of each sample are tested. The waistband circumferencevalues at 250 grams tension from each product tested are averaged toobtain an average initial waistband circumference, and the waistbandcircumference values at 500 grams tension from each product tested areaveraged to obtain an average final waistband circumference.

The breadth of the size range spanned by a given product is representedby subtracting the average initial waistband circumference from theaverage final waistband circumference.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a tensile tester used to measurewaistband circumferences of products according to the present invention.FIG. 8 illustrates a pant of the type shown in FIG. 2 disposed on thetensile tester to measure the waistband circumference.

Apparatus and Materials

-   1. Constant Rate of Extension (CRE) tensile tester: MTS tensile    tester model Synergie 200 Test Bed; available from MTS® Systems    Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C. USA.-   2. Load cells: A suitable cell selected so the majority of the peak    load values fall between the manufacturer's recommended ranges of    load cell's full scale value; Model 100N available from MTS® Systems    Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C. USA.-   3. Operating software and data acquisition system: MTS TestWorks®    for Windows software version 3.10 or higher; available from MTS®    Systems Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C. USA.-   4. Grips: pneumatic-action grips, top and bottom, identified as part    number 2712-003 available from Instron Corporation, Canton, Mass.    USA.-   5. Grip faces: 25 by 75-mm (1 by 3-inch), suitable for holding pins.-   6. Pins: rigid pins having a length of 6.3 centimeters (2.5 inch)    and a knurled portion at one end for holding specimens, the knurled    portion having an outside diameter of 6.4 millimeter (0.25 inch) and    a length of 3.2 centimeters (1.25 inch).-   7. Clips: 1.9 cm. wide by 0.95 cm. capacity (¾″ wide by ⅜″ capacity)    binder clips; part no. BTM00251 available from BT Office Products,    Milwaukee, Wis., USA.

Conditioning

Reasonable ambient conditions should be used for sample testing. Theinstruments used should be calibrated as described in the manufacturer'sinstructions for each instrument.

Test Specimen

No preparation is needed when the product has non-refastenable sideseams or refastenable side seams that are prefastened in the package assold or intended for sale. In this case the whole pant is tested as is.If one or more of the fasteners become unfastened or if the product ispackaged with one or more of the fasteners not fastened or obviously notfastened properly in a product with refastenable side seams, the productmust be fully fastened before it is tested. In this case each specimenof the product should be fastened in the way that the manufacturerdesigned the product to be fastened. In the case of products that wereintended to be packaged with prefastened, refastenable side seams, onlyspecimens with properly fastened fasteners should be used for testing,if possible; specimens with unintentionally unfastened fasteners orfasteners not properly fastened that are found in a package should notbe used. In the case of refastenable products that are intentionallypackaged open (not prefastened) by the manufacturer, all specimensshould be all fastened in a consistent manner and in a way consistentwith the design and conventional use of the product before being tested.

Procedure

Tensile Tester test conditions Cross head speed:  250 mm/min Full scaleload: 4540 g Gage length: Appropriate starting gage length settings forboth hip and waistband are those that will generate initial loads ofbetween 0 and 65 g in a previously unlisted product Go to load(cycletrigger):  500 g Number of cycles:   1 Elongation stop:  450 mm(200%)Break Sensitivity:  75%

-   A. Calibrate the load cell using the Testworks software, at the    beginning of each work session.-   B. Install pin assemblies as depicted in FIG. 8.-   C. Using the tensile frame pushbutton controls for crosshead    position, move pins so that the waistband of the product can be    mounted on the pins without stretching the specimen. Determine the    gage length by measuring from the centerline of the first pin to the    centerline of the second pin. Calibrate the software to this initial    gage length.-   D. Place the waistband onto the knurled section of the top pin.    Center one side of the specimen on top of the pin. Use a single    binder clip to hold the specimen at the waist opening in place on    the pin; do not stretch the specimen during application of the clip.-   E. Click on ZERO to tare the load of the product. Tare the weight of    only the first specimen for each sample population, not each    specimen.-   F. Place the waistband on the opposite side of the product on the    bottom pin and clip in place as for the first pin. Adjust specimen    so both top and bottom pins are inserted 2.5 centimeters (1 inch)    into the pant.-   G. Using the tensile frame pushbutton controls for crosshead    position, move pins apart until the load applied to the waistband is    between 0 and 65 g.-   H. Click on RUN button. The test will start automatically.-   I. When the test is done, click on either FILE to save the data and    graphs or NEXT to save only the data.-   J. Remove the specimen from the pins.-   K. Repeat steps C, D and F through J for each waist specimen until    the testing for that sample is complete.

The circumference of a measured waistband at any tension may becalculated by multiplying the gage length at that tension by 2, andadding one half the circumference of the upper pin and one half thecircumference of the lower pin. The size range covered by each sample isrepresented by subtracting the waistband circumference at 250 g tensionfrom the waistband circumference at 500 g tension. A relatively largernumber represents a relatively broader size range, which will fit moredifferent sized wearers than a relatively narrow size range (smallerdifference between waistband sizes).

Side Panel Extension Limit Test Procedure

The term “stretch-to-stop” as used herein refers to a ratio determinedfrom the difference between the unextended dimension of a compositeelastic material and the maximum extended dimension of a compositeelastic material upon the application of a specified tensioning forceand dividing that difference by the unextended dimension of thecomposite elastic material. If the stretch-to-stop is expressed inpercent, this ratio is multiplied by 100. For example, a compositeelastic material having an unextended length of 12.7 cm (5 inches) and amaximum extended length of 25.4 cm (10 inches) upon applying a force of2000 grams has a stretch-to-stop (at 2000 grams) of 100 percent.Stretch-to-stop may also be referred to as “maximum non-destructiveelongation”.

Data generated by this test includes:

-   -   the extension at 2000 g of force (or the maximum extension        possible without rupture of the material, whichever is less)    -   the percent stretch to stop

Overview

An elastic specimen is removed from the side panel area of a sampleproduct. The specimen is subjected to tensile testing up to a 2000 gload, and the maximum percent extension of the sample under this load isrecorded; if the sample ruptures under less than 2000 g of force, themaximum extension prior to rupture is used. The percent stretch-to-stopis determined by subtracting the minimum extension from the maximumextension, and dividing the resulting difference by the minimumextension value; the result is then multiplied by 100.

Apparatus and Materials

-   1. Constant Rate of Extension (CRE) tensile tester: MTS tensile    tester model Synergie 200 Test Bed; available from MTS® Systems    Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C. USA.-   2. Load cells: A suitable cell selected so the load values fall    between 10 and 90 percent of the manufacturer's recommended ranges    of load cell's full scale value; e.g., Model 100N available from    MTS® Systems Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C. USA.-   3. Operating software and data acquisition system: MTS TestWorks®    for Windows software version 3.10 or higher; available from MTS®    Systems Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C. USA.-   4. Grips: pneumatic-action grips, top and bottom, identified as part    number 38-00716 from MTS Systems Corporation.-   5. Grip faces: 25 by 75-mm (1 by 3-inch). If slippage of specimens    between the jaws occurs during testing, the grip faces of the jaws    can be adapted to increase friction with specimens.

Conditioning

Reasonable ambient conditions should be used for sample testing. Theinstruments used should be calibrated as described in the manufacturer'sinstructions for each instrument.

Test Specimen

An elastic specimen is removed from a sample product in the regionspanning the wearer's side. The specimen should not include waistband orleg elastic structures, if such are present in the product. The specimenshould be 76 mm wide and at least about 100 mm long (±3 mm in eachdimension), or as long as needed for the sample to be securely held bythe grips during testing. The long dimension is orientedcircumferentially on the product; however, if necessary, the shorterdimension may be decreased to avoid waist or leg elastic structures inthe product. The standard test is one cycle per specimen.

The specimen is prepared as follows: The specimen preferably is composedof a single piece of elastic material, rather than multiple materialsthat are bonded or fastened together. It may not always be possible toisolate a specimen of sufficient size that meets this criterion; in thiscase, a specimen can include multiple materials (non-coterminal) thatare bonded together. Regardless of specimen morphology, the region ofthe specimen to be tested should comprise a single contiguous layer; anybonds that join non-coterminal materials should be located outside ofthe region to be tested (i.e. in a region of the specimen that lieswithin a clamp during the test). The region to be tested should belocated reasonably close to the middle of the long dimension of thespecimen, to provide enough material at either end for a secure grip inthe clamps of the tensile tester.

At least four specimens per sample should be tested and results fromlike specimens should be averaged.

Procedure

Tensile Tester test conditions Cross head speed:  508 mm/min Full scaleload: 2000 g Gage length:  50 mm (or down to 25 mm as needed so that theentire region to be tested is elastic and contains no bonded areas) Goto load(cycle trigger): 2000 g Number of cycles:   1 Break Sensitivity: 75%

-   A. Calibrate the load cell using the Testworks software, at the    beginning of each work session.-   B. Using the tensile frame pushbutton controls for crosshead    position, move grips to provide a gage length of 50 mm. Calibrate    the software to this initial gage length.-   C. Place a material specimen so that it is centered between the    grips, held in a centered position within each grip, and oriented    correctly (76 mm dimension running the width direction on the    grips). The specimen's vertical edges should be perpendicular to the    grip faces.-   D. Close the grips on the specimen, holding the specimen in such a    way as to minimize slack in the specimen, but do not place the    specimen under tension. Ensure that the load at this point is less    than 5 grams. If the load is greater than five grams, release the    lower grip and zero the load cell. Reclose the lower grip, again    ensuring that the specimen is neither under tension nor buckled with    excessive slack. Continue checking the starting load and following    the above procedure until the starting load is under 5 grams.-   E. Run the single cycle test using the above parameters by clicking    on the RUN button.-   F. When the test is complete, save the data to a sample file.-   G. Remove the specimen from the grips.-   H. Run additional specimens of a given sample using steps C-E and G;    the data for all specimens should be saved to a single file.-   I. Continue testing all samples in this manner.

The stretch-to stop for each specimen should be calculated bysubtracting the minimum extension from the maximum extension (at 2000 gtension, or just before rupture of the sample) and dividing thedifference by the minimum extension. The stretch-to-stop may beexpressed as a percent by multiplying the resulting number by 100.Stretch-to-stop values for each set of like specimens should beaveraged; no fewer than four specimens should be used for each average.Results from any specimens that slip within the grips during testingshould be discarded.

It will be appreciated that details of the foregoing embodiments, givenfor purposes of illustration, are not to be construed as limiting thescope of this invention. Although only a few exemplary embodiments ofthis invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in theart will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in theexemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thisinvention, which is defined in the following claims and all equivalentsthereto. Further, it is recognized that many embodiments may beconceived that do not achieve all of the advantages of some embodiments,particularly of the preferred embodiments, yet the absence of aparticular advantage shall not be construed to necessarily mean thatsuch an embodiment is outside the scope of the present invention.

1. A method of concurrently providing a series of types of trainingpants to consumers, comprising: providing a series of at least threedifferent types of disposable training pants each having a chassis witha longitudinal length, wherein a first garment type is targeted to fitwearers in a first size range, and a second garment type and a thirdgarment type are each targeted to fit wearers in a second size rangelarger than the first size range; and the longitudinal length of thechassis of the third garment type is at least 4% shorter than thelongitudinal length of the chassis of the second garment type.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal length of the chassis of thethird garment type is at least 6% shorter than the longitudinal lengthof the chassis of the second garment type.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the longitudinal length of the chassis of the third garment typeis at least 8% shorter than the longitudinal length of the chassis ofthe second garment type.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thelongitudinal length of the chassis of the third garment type is shorterthan the longitudinal length of the chassis of the first garment type.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second garment typeseach have a greater absorbent capacity than the third garment type. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second garment types eachhave an absorbent capacity of greater than about 400 grams and the thirdgarment type has an absorbent capacity of less than about 300 grams. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the third garment type has an absorbentcapacity of less than about 200 grams.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe third garment type has a thickness of less than about 4.5millimeters.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the third garment typehas a thickness of less than about 4 millimeters.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the third garment type has a thickness of less thanabout 3 millimeters.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the thirdgarment type has a thickness of less than about 2 millimeters.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the third garment type has a thickness lessthan a thickness of the first and second garment types.
 13. The methodof claim 1, further comprising conveying information to a consumerindicating greater applicability of one of the garment types in theseries over other garment types in the series, the information beingconveyed by at least one of the group consisting of an in-store display,posters, brochures, package literature, shelf information, computerprograms, videos, television, coupon, and advertisement.
 14. A method ofconcurrently providing a series of types of training pants to consumers,comprising: providing a series of at least three different types ofdisposable training pants each having a chassis with a longitudinallength, wherein a first garment type is targeted to fit wearers in afirst size range and has an absorbent capacity of at least about 400grams, a second garment type targeted to fit wearers in a second sizerange larger than the first size range, the second garment type havingan absorbent capacity of at least about 400 grams, and a third garmenttype targeted to fit wearers in a third size range that overlap at leastthe second size range, the third garment having an absorbent capacity ofless than about 250 grams, with the longitudinal length of the chassisof the third garment type at least 4% shorter than the longitudinallength of the chassis of the second garment type.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the longitudinal length of the chassis of the thirdgarment type is at least 6% shorter than the longitudinal length of thechassis of the second garment type.
 16. The method of claim 14, whereinthe longitudinal length of the chassis of the third garment type is atleast 8% shorter than the longitudinal length of the chassis of thesecond garment type.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the thirdgarment type comprises a pair of stretchable side panels having astretch-to-stop value of at least 200%.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the stretchable side panels comprise a stretch-bonded laminate.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the side panels each comprise arefastenable fastening system.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein theside panels are permanently bonded along each longitudinal edge of eachside panel.
 21. The method of claim 14, wherein the third garment typecomprises a pair of stretchable side panels having a stretch-to-stopvalue that is at least at least 20% higher than a stretch-to-stop valueof any side panels on the first garment type and the second garmenttype.
 22. The method of claim 14, wherein the third garment type has athickness of less than about 4.5 millimeters.
 23. The method of claim14, wherein the third size range overlaps the first size range and thesecond size range.
 24. The method of claim 14, further comprisingconveying information to a consumer indicating greater applicability ofone of the garment types in the series over other garment types in theseries, the information being conveyed by at least one of the groupconsisting of an in-store display, posters, brochures, packageliterature, shelf information, computer programs, videos, television,coupon, and advertisement.
 25. A method of concurrently providing aseries of types of training pants to consumers, comprising: providing afirst sub-series of disposable training pants, wherein the firstsub-series includes a first garment type in at least three differentsizes designed to fit wearers in at least three different size ranges,the first garment type having a first level of absorbency; and providinga second sub-series of disposable training pants, wherein the secondsub-series includes a second garment type in at least two differentsizes overlapping, at least in part, the size ranges of the garments inthe first sub-series, each of the garments of the second sub-serieshaving a second level of absorbency lower than the first level ofabsorbency, and each of the garments in the second sub-series having achassis with a longitudinal length that is at least 4% shorter than alongitudinal length of a chassis of a garment in the first sub-seriesoverlapping at least a portion of the same size range.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, wherein the longitudinal length of the chassis of each of thegarments in the second sub-series is at least 6% shorter than thelongitudinal length of the chassis of a garment in the first sub-seriesoverlapping at least a portion of the same size range.
 27. The method ofclaim 25, wherein the longitudinal length of the chassis of each of thegarments in the second sub-series is at least 8% shorter than thelongitudinal length of the chassis of a garment in the first sub-seriesoverlapping at least a portion of the same size range.
 28. The method ofclaim 25, wherein each of the garments in the second sub-series isdesigned to fit wearers in a wider size range than each of the garmentsin the first sub-series.
 29. The method of claim 25, wherein each of thegarments in the second sub-series has a thickness of less than about 4.5millimeters.
 30. The method of claim 25, further comprising conveyinginformation to a consumer indicating greater applicability of one of thegarment types in the series over other garment types in the series, theinformation being conveyed by at least one of the group consisting of anin-store display, posters, brochures, package literature, shelfinformation, computer programs, videos, television, coupon, andadvertisement.